Foam cushion with conductive foil for grounding in an EMI shield and method of using the same

Abstract

A block of foam is wrapped with a conductive foil to replace a metal spring used to both support and ground an electrical component in an electronic device. In particular, the foam block wrapped in foil may be used to support a video board in a display device while grounding the EMI shielding on the board and related components. The foil is preferably adhered to the foam block with an adhesive.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A device for both supporting a component of an electronic device and providing and electrical pathway from said component, the device comprising: 
       a block of foam, said block being square when viewed from above and having top and bottom opposing surfaces; and  
       a conductive foil providing said electrical pathway disposed on said block,  
       wherein an adhesive is located only on said top and bottom surfaces.  
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein adhesive is between said foam and said foil. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein said adhesive is two-sided tape. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said foil is aluminum. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said foam is urethane. 
     
     
       6. A display device comprising: 
       an EMI-shielded circuit board;  
       a block of foam for supporting said circuit board, said block being square when viewed from above and having top and bottom opposing surfaces; and  
       a conductive foil disposed on said block for grounding said circuit board,  
       wherein an adhesive is located only on said top and bottom surfaces.  
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein adhesive is between said foam and said foil. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 6 , wherein said foil is aluminum. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 6 , wherein said foam is urethane. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 6 , wherein said adhesive is two-sided tape. 
     
     
       11. A method of both supporting a component of an electronic device and providing and electrical pathway from said component, the method comprising: 
       locating an adhesive only on said top and bottom opposing surfaces of a block of foam, said block being square when viewed from above; and  
       supporting said component with said block on which a conductive foil is disposed providing said electrical pathway.  
     
     
       12. A method of making a device for both supporting a component of an electronic device and providing and electrical pathway from said component, the method comprising: 
       locating an adhesive only on said top and bottom opposing surfaces of a block of foam, said block being square when viewed from above; and  
       disposing a conductive foil which forms said electrical pathway on said block.  
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising adhering said foil to said foam with a layer of adhesive between said foam and said foil. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein said adhesive is two-sided tape. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , wherein said disposing said foil further comprises placing aluminum foil on said foam block. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising forming said foam block from urethane. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , wherein said disposing said foil comprises disposing foil on at least a portion of a top, a bottom and three sides of said foamblock. 
     
     
       18. A method of making a display device comprising; 
       locating an adhesive only on said top and bottom opposing surfaces of a block of foam, said being square when viewed from above: and  
       supporting an EMI-shielded circuit board with said block having a conductive foil disposed thereon for grounding said circuit board.  
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising adhering said foil to said foam with said adhesive between said foam and said foil. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein said adhesive is two-sided tape. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising using aluminum foil as said foil on said foam block. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising forming said foam block from urethane.